An animated interactive modelling system for decision support

In seeking to use formal, algebraic models for decision support, analysts are constrained by the implementations of the dominant technologies (spreadsheet and optimisation) and especially by the limited, indirect model ‘exploration’ capabilities of these technologies. This exacerbates the difficulties associated with algebraic modelling in those cases where it is appropriate to cater for qualitative (or subjective) features, and modelling with several or no criteria. In this paper the authors present a modelling system which combines WIMP-style workstation capabilities with extensions of conventional algebraic and optimisation algorithms. This combination allows the end user to explore a model from several perspectives and view a fluent, animated display of this exploration.